Textile finish and processes for its preparation and use

Abstract

A process for the preparation of a textile finish, the textile finish thus obtained and its use for the easy-care finishing of textiles containing, or consisting of, cellulose. The textile finish comprises an aqueous solution, of from 30 to 70 percent strength by weight, of a mixture of the conventionally formaldehyde-methylolated carbamates I and II ##STR1## where R 1 is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R 2 and R 3 are hydrogen, or one is hydrogen and the other is methyl, in the weight ratio I:II of from 12:1 to 1:20. The textile finish is prepared by reacting a glycol or an alkylglycol of the formulae III and IV ##STR2## where R 1 , R 2 and R 3 have the above meanings, with urea at above 100° C., so as to eliminate ammonia and give carbamates, and subsequent conventional methylolation with formaldehyde, wherein, in a first stage, the glycol or alkylglycol of the formula III is reacted to the extent of at least 50% with urea, in the absence of a catalyst, at from 130° to 160° C., to give the carbamate I, and in a second stage, carried out either in the presence of an ion exchanger, containing nickel ions, as the catalyst, at from 130° to 165° C., or in the absence of a catalyst at from 150° to 200° C., the carbamate mixture in the weight ratio I:II of from 12:1 to 1:20, is prepared by addition of the glycol or alkylglycol of the formula IV and further urea.

We claim: 
     
       1. A finish for textiles containing, or consisting of, cellulose, which comprises an aqueous solution, of from 30 to 70 percent strength by weight, of a mixture of the conventionally formaldehyde-methylolated carbamates I and II ##STR5## where R 1  is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R 2  and R 3  is hydrogen, or one is hydrogen and the other is methyl, in the weight ratio I:II of from 12:1 to 1:20. 
     
     
       2. A process for the preparation of a textile finish as claimed in claim 1, by reacting a glycol or an alkylglycol of the formulae III and IV ##STR6## where R 1 , R 2  and R 3  have the above meanings, with urea at above 100° C., so as to eliminate ammonia and give carbamates, and subsequent conventional methylolation with formaldehyde, wherein, in a first stage, the glycol or alkylglycol of the formula III is reacted to the extent of at least 50% with urea, in the absence of a catalyst, at from 130° to 160° C., to give the carbamate I, and in a second stage, carried out either in the presence of an ion exchanger, containing nickel ions, as the catalyst, at from 130° to 165° C., or in the absence of a catalyst at from 150° to 200° C., the carbamate mixture in the weight ratio I:II of from 12:1 to 1:20, is prepared by addition of the glycol or alkylglycol of the formula IV and further urea. 
     
     
       3. Use of a textile finish as claimed in claim 1 for the easy-care finishing of textiles which contain, or consist of, cellulose.